The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-09
MANDA'S PARCEL.
BY LILY CURRY.


truly absurd-for Job to have taken th'
affair so sorely to heart. Even job
mother, that lively body, herself scarcely
past forty, who had felt a jolly intcrcs
in the matter all along and encouraged
her sons aspirations to the extent of dc
nuding her best window plants in order
to provide bouquets for the fair lady OF
his choicc-evcn jobs mother, after tho
first shock of disappointment, had settled
down from a state of indignant excite
ment to a good naturedly philosophical
view of the circumstances. The girl that
could tritle with her son jobs feelings,
was-wcll, she was bad enough to do
most anything; and job was well rid OF
her, though she was worth forty times as
much money as Adclinc Humphreys was
said to be worth-or at least would in
hcrit before long from her dead mothers
property. And it was mean, the way
poor Job had been led on to take bou-
quets of his mothers constructing, and
cakes of his mothers compounding, and
preserves and pickles of his mothers put
ting up, all to that ungrateful Hum
phrcys girl, and then have her turn
around and flout him before all the other
folks ut Elder Gurney's donation party.
Mrs. Wcstcott had considered all this and
u good deal besides that was more en-
phatic, and, indeed, perhaps good deal
that she was ashamed of when she grew
cooler and tried to console her son.
"After all, Job, Adcline amt so very
young. And I never did think her much
on looks. There's Minnie Hawkins has
got Just as good tiggcr, and Lutte Eli
sons hair and eyes is great deal prettier
wouldn't fret about it; wouldn't let her
think cared straw
But Job was not to be consoled. All
the morning he sat huddtcd up by the
kitchen stove with look of misery that
might we'll have become his Biblical pro-
totype. He nurscd his wounded feelings
in utter silence. His mother had been
asleep when he returned the night before
and of course, she knew nothing about
her sons aggricvance until he had dawned
upon her at breakfast, paler and more
melancholy of aspect than she had ever
seen him before in his twcnty-onc years
of life. Then what he said was brief and
to the point: sits all up. Adcline went
back on me. She as good as told me she
was going to marry that fellow Kidder,
from Rocky Forks. No use in my trying
any more. She snubbed me out and out
Every one saw it."
After breakfast he went out and did q
few chores, but soon returned and hud-
died himself up behind the stove again,
where there were but two serious objects
for mplation-the fat nine-year-old
cat and the we'll filled coal box.
There he sat, thin, long-limbed, hollow
eyed and even aguish. Adeline had
given him the mitten. There wasn't
much to live for. He sat in silent retro
spection; sat and remembered how much
time-for three long months-and how
much effort he had devoted to the WOO
ing of Adeline Humphreys. Sadly he re-
viewed the wasted hours, the fruitlcss
offerings at that shrine. Only two days
before he had squandercd considerable
sum out of his past summers earnings
wherewith to purchase for this heartless
creatures delcctation one of the hand
soonest valentines displayed in the chief
store of the village. The valentine was
even now resting, wrapped for delivery
and marked with her initials, ga. H."
upon the bureau in the spare chamber.
Tears came oozing up in his eyes as he
thought of this.
His mother was sweeping out the sit
ting-room.
She suddenly stopped.
My land, Job! I'd most forgot. The
school teachcr'll be here this afternoon.
Amt it shame all my plants arc" she
paused, with possibly u delicate dislike
to recall the subject of his trouble.
She's real nice little thing, Manda is, y
she resumed after moment. ~ always
did like the kind of face she's got. None
of your Ad-"
Job groancd. His mother caught her,
self up again.
II wish we had a melodeon while Man
da's here. She's"
Job got up from his scat. took his hat
and went out into the back yard
Land! never did see how hard he
takes it," soliloquized Mrs Wcstcott. 81
wish that Adelinc Humphreys was under
the sea. Perhaps Manda'll help him get
ONSl ~ IlttlS uOu hllON Hill
SO very well, but she's always been pleas,
ant-spoken. And then she don't know
anything about his running after that
girl. She's been off in the Rocky Forks
district since before it began"
In the middle of the afternoon the pret.
ty little school teacher descended from 8
wagon which had given her ''lift" in
her six-mile walk from Rocky Forks tc
the Westcott place. She came smiling
up the long path and looked so charming
with wind-reddened cheeks and spark,
ling eyes that Mrs. Westcott embraced
her most cordially.
"How dye do, Manda-that is to say
Miss Hasdy2"
''Now please don't call me anything
but Manda," said the girl with playful
rcproach. "I'm very we'll and hope
see you the same. I've walked nearly al
the way. My things won't be over til
tomorrow. IsuppoSe you can lend me {
brush and comb for to-night?' sht
laughed as she united her bonnet and un
buttoned her ulster by the kitchen fire.
80 yes" said Mrs. WcStcott, looking
more practical than ever for a moment
And anything else--you might want
something to wcar.'
Manda bu>lcd and laughed again.
FLOWS Mr. WcStcott and Young Mr.
Wv>tcctt:" she inquired, checrily
.'Oh they're both well. Don't know
but Job docs look II little like aguc
Guess he'll feel better now that YOUR
here
Manda was now conducted to the SPAR
chamber, where, having laid aside he